ARLINGTON, Texas — The 2024 Home Run Derby has plenty of star power.
The Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson and the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. are fast-rising superstars, the Rangers’ Adolis Garcia has delivered plenty of fireworks inside Globe Life Field and the Mets’ Pete Alonso has become a staple in the derby as he chases what would be a record-tying third title.
Here is your Home Run Derby primer as the coveted long ball contest gets underway at 8 p.m. ET Monday at Globe Life Field, home of the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers. ESPN will air the contest live.
Favorites
Henderson: The top home run hitter in the field with 28 in the first half. He has one career home run at Globe Life Field, too.
Garcia: Talk about a home-field advantage. Garcia has hit 67 home runs in his career at Globe Life Field, the most all-time since the ballpark opened in 2020. The most memorable to date was his walk-off blast to lift the Rangers past the D-backs in Game 1 of the 2023 World Series.
Alonso: How do you bet against someone who has as much history as Alonso in this event, including two wins? If he emerges on top once again, he’ll tie Ken Griffey Jr. for most wins.
Sleepers
Marcell Ozuna: It’s his first derby but he’s one of the game’s best power hitters. Outside of Shohei Ohtani (66) and Aaron Judge (65), no player has hit more home runs (64) than Ozuna since May 1, 2023.
Witt: The son of former Ranger Bobby Witt grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, attending Colleyville Heritage High School. He’ll have plenty of motivation to put on a show in front of his hometown fans.
Alec Bohm: Bohm has the fewest home runs (11) of any competitor in the field, so he’s naturally a sleeper. Bohm’s bat has more pop in it, though. As Phillies manager Rob Thomson told MLB.com: “I know how far he can hit a ball. It hasn’t shown up over the course of a season, but it will.” Maybe the derby is the starting point.
Other participants
Teoscar Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Jose Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians round out the field.
Derby History
Griffey may be the player most associated with the Home Run Derby, which started in 1985. Griffey owns the records for wins (three) and appearances (eight).
Other standouts over the years include Alonso, who set the record for most home runs in one round with 35 in the 2021 first round. In 2019, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. established the record for most home runs in one event with 91. Of course, even though he didn’t win the event, Josh Hamilton stole the show in 2008 at Yankee Stadium. Hamilton had a stretch of belting 13 straight home runs on 13 swings en route to setting a then-record 28 first-round homers.
Another breakout performance may be on the horizon as the derby returns to Hamilton’s old stomping grounds in Arlington. The last time the Rangers hosted the event was in 1995 at Globe Life Park, their former home across the street. That year, Frank Thomas edged out Albert Belle for the title.
Now it’s time for Globe Life Field and this generation’s stars to take center stage.
Globe Life Field Dimensions
–329 feet down the left field line, a nod to former Rangers great Adrian Beltre’s No. 29.
–372 feet to the left field power alley, a nod to the Rangers moving to Arlington in 1972.
–407 feet to straightaway center field, a nod to Ivan Rodriguez’s No. 7.
–8 feet is the height of the outfield walls.
–410 feet is the deepest distance, both left and right of straightaway center field, a nod to Michael Young’s No. 10.
–374 feet to right field power alley, a nod to the franchise’s “turnaround gang” going from 57 to 84 wins in 1974.
–326 feet to right field line, a nod Johnny Oates’ No. 26.
Did You Know?
Globe Life Field was the site of Aaron Judge’s record-breaking 62nd home run to set the single-season American League record on Oct. 4, 2022 at Globe Life Field.
The longest home run in the stadium’s young history is 472 feet. Oakland’s Seth Brown reached the distance on July 10, 2021 followed by the Angels’ Mike Trout on April 14, 2022.
Reason to Watch
Dingers. Yes, a handful of fans may write off the Home Run Derby as gimmicky with the format constantly changing, but there’s still something beautiful about seeing a ball clear the fence.
–Drew Davison, Field Level Media